Acts 3:21 And The Rapture

Q

Like you I support the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church. However Acts 3:21 has always presented a problem where Peter states that Messiah has to remain in heaven until the period of restoration (restitution) of all things. If ‘all things’ implies the restoration of creation, then that will plainly not be the condition prevailing on earth if we are correct in our understanding of the Pre-Tribulation rapture This was highlighted by a visiting Messianic Jewish speaker at our assembly last evening. He used to accept the Pre-Trib: view but now believes that the Church will go through the Tribulation, based on Acts 3:21.

A

In the first place, you can’t take one verse and use it to re-interpret a dozen or so others that clearly proclaim a pre-trib Rapture. I’m talking about Romans 5:9, 1 Thes. 1:10 & 5:9, Rev 3:10 and others. But more importantly, Acts 3:21 is talking about the 2nd Coming and Millennium, not the Rapture of the Church.

Remember, the Lord does not return to Earth for the Rapture. And besides Peter hadn’t been taught about the Rapture. Paul introduced it 20 years later in his first letter to the Thessalonians. So Peter could not have had the Rapture in view when he made that statement.